Mohammed bin Idris Al Shaafa'ee (alaihir rahmah) famously known as Imam Shaafa'ee was born in 150 A.H. and belonged to the Quraish tribe.

EARLY LIFE

When he was 10 years old, he came to Makkatul Mukarramah from Palestine where he grew up. He was very intelligent and had an excellent memory. He memorized the entire Holy Quran at the age of 7. By the age of 15, he had memorized the entire Muwatta of Imam Maalik (alaihir rahmah). Before the age of 20, he studied Islamic Jurisprudence under the Mufti of Makkatul Mukarramah, Sayyiduna Muslim bin Khalil al Zanji and also Sayyiduna Sufyaan bin Uyayana (radi Allahu anhuma). Imam Maalik bin Anas (alaihir rahmah) was also his teacher.

IN IRAQ

When the Governor of Iraq visited Madinatul Munawwarah, he was so impressed by Imam Shaafa'ee (alaihir rahmah) that he persuaded him to become an Administrator. As Imam Shaafa'ee (alaihir rahmah) was in conflict with the Government officials, he was deported to Iraq and brought in front of Haroun Rasheed who was very impressed with Imam Shaafa'ee (alaihir rahmah).He now studied Islamic Jurisprudence under Imam Mohammed Ash Shaybaani (alaihir rahmah), who was the student of Imam Abu Yusuf (alaihir rahmah), who was the student of Imam A'zam Abu Hanifa (alaihir rahmah). Thus, Imam Shaafa'ee (alaihir rahmah) became a master of both the Hanafi and Shaafa'ee School of Fiqh.

IN EGYPT

On his way to Egypt, he lectured in Makkatul Mukarramah in the Haram Shareef. Imam Ahmed bin Hambal (alaihir rahmah), who was studying at the time in Makkatul Mukarramah found great benefit from these lectures. Imam Shaafa'ee (alaihir rahmah) then went to Baghdad where he spent 3 or 4 years and finally went to Egypt. He was now 50 years old.

In Egypt, scholars from all over the world came to study at his feet. His famous pupils were Sayyiduna Rabi bin Sulayman, Sayyiduna Abu Yacoob Al Ruwayta and Sayyiduna Abu Ebraheem bin Yahya Al Muzani (radi Allahu anhumul ajma'in).

HIS WORKS

"Kitaabul Umm" and "Ar Risaalah" are the two famous books on Islamic Fiqh written by him.

PASSES AWAY

Some reports say that he was injured seriously by a person called Fityan, while other reports mention that he passed away through natural illness on the last day of Rajab in the year 204 A.H.in Egypt. Maalik Al Kaamil, the Ayyubid Sultan, built a Mazaar for him in 608 A.H.